7.3 Optimizing PCM Bandwidth Usage in Flight Test by Real-time Data Analysis During Flight

There is an ever-increasing demand for more data to be captured during flight test applications, placing more demand on the limited bandwidth available for PCM data transmission. Some strategies can help, such as performing analysis on the platform itself. For example, by performing Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) analysis in the air and sending just the results down over PCM in real-time, the PCM bandwidth usage can be optimized, saving the users time and reducing the overall cost of ownership. This paper discusses data analysis methods, specifically FFT analysis on accelerometer data in real-time during flight, that can be used without additional flight test instrumentation hardware onboard the aircraft.